DEV Community: Toolloom

Saving Yourself with Git Reflog

Toolloom — Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:12 +0000

We've all been there: you run a destructive command like git reset --hard or accidentally delete a branch, and panic sets in. Before you accept defeat, remember that Git rarely actually deletes anything immediately. It keeps a secret history of every single action you take locally in a tool called the reflog.

Just type git reflog in your terminal to see a list of your recent movements, even the ones you thought you lost. Once you find the commit hash from right before your mistake, you can run git reset --hard to bring your code back from the dead. It's the ultimate undo button for Git.

Stop Writing print('var =', var) in Python

Toolloom — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:00:13 +0000

We've all been there: quickly sprinkling print statements throughout our code to see what a variable holds during runtime. But writing 'print(f"user_id: {user_id}")' over and over gets tedious. Next time, try the f-string shortcut by adding an equals sign after the variable name: 'print(f"{user_id=}")'.

This will automatically output both the variable name and its value (for example, 'user_id=42'), saving you keystrokes and making your quick-and-dirty debugging sessions much faster. It even works with expressions, like 'print(f"{len(users)=}")'!

Lost your commits? Git reflog to the rescue!

Toolloom — Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:09 +0000

We've all been there: you perform a force push, a messy rebase, or accidentally delete a local branch, and suddenly your hard work seems gone forever. Before you panic, run git reflog in your terminal. Git keeps a silent, chronological diary of almost every action you take locally, even if those commits are no longer attached to any active branch.

Once you find the commit hash of your lost work in the reflog list, you can easily resurrect it by running git checkout or creating a new branch from that point. It's the ultimate safety net that will save your skin more than once.

Prevent Silent Bugs in Python with `strict=True`

Toolloom — Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:10 +0000

Python's zip() function is incredibly handy for looping over two lists simultaneously. However, there's a sneaky trap: if your lists are of unequal length, zip() will silently stop at the end of the shortest one, discarding the extra elements from the longer list without warning. This can lead to hard-to-find bugs in your data processing pipelines.

If you're using Python 3.10 or newer, you can pass the strict=True argument (e.g., zip(names, ages, strict=True)). This forces Python to raise a ValueError if the iterables aren't the exact same length, saving you from silent data loss.

Master Selective Commits with Git Add Patch

Toolloom — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:09 +0000

Ever finished a long coding session and realized you've written code for three different features, but you want to keep your commit history clean? Instead of committing everything at once, use git add -p (or --patch). This command runs an interactive session that walks you through every single change in your workspace, letting you decide whether to stage it, skip it, or even split a change into smaller pieces.

It's a lifesaver for keeping your pull requests focused and easy to review. Your future self—and your teammates—will thank you for commits that actually match their commit messages.

The Hidden Debugging Shortcut in Python F-Strings

Toolloom — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:09 +0000

We've all written quick print statements like print(f"user_id: {user_id}") to debug our Python code. But there is a much cleaner, built-in shortcut that saves you from typing out the variable name twice. If you add an equal sign = inside the curly braces after the variable name, Python will automatically print both the expression and its evaluated value.

For example, print(f"{user_id=}") will output user_id=42. It even preserves whitespace and works with expressions, like f"{len(users)=}". It’s a tiny syntax trick that makes quick-and-dirty debugging incredibly satisfying.

Prevent silent bugs in Python using zip(strict=True)

Toolloom — Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:10 +0000

Python's built-in zip() function is incredibly handy for looping over multiple iterables at once. However, a major gotcha is that it quietly stops as soon as the shortest iterable is exhausted, potentially hiding bugs if your lists aren't actually the same length.

If you're using Python 3.10 or newer, you can pass the strict=True argument to zip(). This forces Python to raise a ValueError if the iterables are of unequal lengths, ensuring you catch mismatched data pipelines immediately instead of letting them silently fail in production.

Boost your editing speed with VS Code's multi-cursor power

Toolloom — Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:10 +0000

If you're still manually renaming five instances of a variable in a file, it's time to embrace Ctrl+D (or Cmd+D on Mac). Simply highlight the word you want to change, and press the shortcut to automatically select the next occurrence. Each press adds a new cursor, allowing you to edit, delete, or replace all matching instances simultaneously.

If you accidentally select one too many, don't worry—you can undo the last selection with Ctrl+U (Cmd+U on Mac) without losing your other cursors. It's a quick, low-friction alternative to a full find-and-replace when you just need to make a localized edit.

Prioritize Readability Over Clever One-Liners

Toolloom — Sun, 17 May 2026 05:00:11 +0000

It’s tempting to use advanced language features like nested list comprehensions or complex ternary operators to show off your skills. However, the best code isn't the most 'clever'—it's the most maintainable. If a teammate (or you, six months from now) has to spend more than a few seconds deciphering a single line, it’s probably too complex.

When in doubt, break it down. A standard loop with a few clear variable names is almost always better than a cryptic one-liner. Code is read far more often than it is written, so optimize for the human reader's brain rather than trying to save a few bytes of space.

Mastering Granular Commits with Git Add Patch

Toolloom — Wed, 13 May 2026 21:00:10 +0000

Ever find yourself finishing a long coding session only to realize you’ve changed three different things in one file? Instead of dumping everything into a single messy commit, try using git add -p. This command opens an interactive mode that lets you review each "hunk" of code changes one by one.

You can decide to stage a specific change, skip it, or even split it into smaller pieces if the hunk is too large. It’s a total game-changer for keeping your pull requests clean, focused, and much easier for your teammates to review.

Write Pythonic Code with List Comprehensions

Toolloom — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:00:09 +0000

If you are still writing three-line for loops just to filter a list or transform some data, it is time to embrace list comprehensions. They make your code more concise and often faster to execute. For example, using a single line to square a list of numbers is much easier to read at a glance than a nested loop with an append call. Just remember to keep them readable—if the logic gets too complex, a standard loop is better for the sake of your future self's sanity.

Level Up Your Python Strings

Toolloom — Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:11 +0000

If you're still using .format() or % for string interpolation in Python, it's time to fully embrace f-strings. They aren't just more readable; they're actually faster because they're evaluated at runtime rather than being constant strings that require a function call.

A little-known trick is the = specifier introduced in Python 3.8. Writing f"{variable=}" will output both the variable name and its value (e.g., variable=10). It’s the ultimate "quick and dirty" debugging tool when you don't want to fire up a full debugger.